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Sunday, February 02, 2014

FAO Year 3: The National Student Survey 2014

On February 10th the National Student Survey 2014 goes live. I want to bring the launch of the survey to your attention now, as your participation is essential to the way the University seeks to improve its courses and maintain standards.

Launch of the National Student Survey 2014

Okay, so you're going to invited by Ipsos MORI (an independent market research agency) to complete the National Student Survey (NSS) between 10th February and 30 April 2014. They will email your NSS login details to your Ucreative accounts, so you need to check there.

The NSS is targeted at final year students only to provide feedback on their courses. The results of the NSS contribute towards the overall student satisfaction rating for the University, which is published annually.

If students don't complete the NSS survey right away, Ipsos MORI contacts them by way of a reminder. I'm assuming most of you will be much too busy to engage with telephone interviews etc., but Ipsos MORI will seek to contact you in this way as more weeks go by. I suggest you complete the survey in week 1. See below - a timetable re. the survey and the method and means of data collection by Ipsos MORI:

Okay - so what does the survey entail? Most of you will have completed surveys very similar to the NSS during your time with us, so you'll know the format: 23 core questions relating to the following aspects of the student learning experience:

Teaching on my Course

Assessment and Feedback

Academic Support

Organisation and Management

Learning Resources

Personal Development

Overall Satisfaction

Students' Union

The survey doesn't take very long, but it is important that you consider your responses carefully. It may feel like just another box-ticking exercise - but it isn't. The NSS survey is crucial to our understanding of what you think about us, and UCA more broadly. You're telling us about the things we're doing well and where stuff needs improving. You're highlighting the weaknesses and safe-guarding the good bits. You can help your course team make things better. Your feedback is used to improve the experience for future students, so be honest, but be constructive. Your views on what we do become part of formal monitoring processes within the University, which promotes discussion and debate. In short - data derived from the NSS - from you - is taken very seriously!

As per previous years, I'll publish another NSS-themed post on the group blog next Monday (10/02/2014) and ask you to leave a 'done it' comment when you've completed the survey. I'll also drop by your personal blogs with a reminder and link to this post as the days go by.